Tuesday, 1 May 2012

I'm late to the party as usual, but the 1st of May theme for this month's by-invitation international blog event is Dream Day. From my current perspective here in Britain, where it has been raining non-stop for weeks on end (and no end in sight) as in some kind of biblical Noah's ark type flood, thoughts turn easily to the sunny vineyards I visited last month, which do now seem a distant dream.

Is this France? No, a little corner of France in Africa, Franschhoek, where French settlers came to plant their vines ...

Since the Cape has a disproportionate share of natural beauty - oceans, vineyards, mountains, forests - and award-winning restaurants, one is spoiled for choice with dream-day material. But lets say we do a vineyard day, starting in the Constantia valley wine estates, with breakfast at the Alphen ...

under the plane trees at La Belle Café

and head out from there along the wine routes via Stellenbosch to La Motte in a setting made of dreams

for lunch in the Pierneef restaurant

and a wander round the art gallery and farm shop before tea in this peaceful spot on the lawns

At sunset we could drive down the road to Le Quartier Français for dinner with a view to the sculpture garden

(Le Quartier Français has been in the world's top 50 restaurants list for years, as well as best restaurant in Africa and the Middle East)

and much later, since it's still warm outside, head back to Constantia Uitsig for dessert on the terrace